Milan and beyond - DHL's concerted logistics for the Gewandhausorchester on tour

Few classical encounters can match experiencing the award-winning combination of Maestro Ricccardo Chailly conducting the Gewandhausorchester at the world-famous Teatro alla Scala in Milan. The celebrated opera house is where the great Italian conductor first began his extraordinary career more than 40 years ago. The majestic performance on February 16 was a major highlight on the Gewandhausorchester’s European tour to ten cities in five countries this February.

Touring is an essential aspect of the orchestra’s prolific program and high international standing. “We carry the Gewandhausorchester’s special tradition out into the world in the form of the repertoire we play,” says Gewandhaus Director Professor Andreas Schulz.

Whether in Europe, Asia or the U.S., the world’s oldest and biggest civic symphony orchestra spends about a third of the year on the road. “We are also the city of Leipzig’s most important musical ambassadors,” says Schulz. “The evening in Milan, for example, includes Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, which the orchestra premiered, and Mahler's First Symphony, which he composed during his time in Leipzig from 1886-1888. These are all hallmarks of the special tradition that the orchestra symbolizes and that we convey through our concerts, not only in Europe, but all around the world.”

In Milan, Chailly’s charisma set the stage for an outstanding musical adventure into the nuances of Mahler’s “Titan” symphony, preceded by a breathtaking performance of Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's Violin Concerto with soloist Julian Rachlin. Chailly’s boisterous enthusiasm from the podium gave clear indication that his inner wunderkind is still very much alive within.

With seasoned expertise, he and the Gewandhausorchester players demonstrated the same pluck and perfection that have repeatedly earned them the deserving reputation as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of Mendelssohn and Mahler.

The evening also marked a special milestone in the incredible career of Gewandhauskapellmeister Chailly and the special relationship he has to the history-steeped venue of his youth. In 2017, Chailly will begin his post as Music Director of La Scala. For the Maestro from Leipzig, the tour stop in Milan was literally a second homecoming in his new dual role.

As Official Logistics Partner, DHL is proud to assist the orchestra as it brings the classics home to Europe’s beloved concert halls and stages. “From one city to the next, it’s always a thrill,” says DHL’s Gregor Klammer, who has been coordinating the transport of the orchestra’s equipment on tour since the partnership began ten years ago. “Like any professional performer, I still get butterflies in my stomach before a major event or tour. That keeps us at the top of our game, providing smooth and safe logistics for the orchestra. It’s never the same, but always a joy.”

Watch the video above to get a glimpse of the Gewandhausorchester on tour in Europe and how DHL conducts the logistics – on the road and behind the scenes.